From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Indian Australian |
| Total population |
|
243,722 (by ancestry, 2006)[1]
147,106 (by birth, 2006)[2]
|
| Regions with significant populations |
| Urban Areas |
| Languages |
| Australian English, Various Indian languages |
| Religions |
| Hindu, Christian, Sikh, Jain, Zoroastrian, Muslim, Others |
Australians of Indian origin are one of the fastest growing ethnic groups in Australia.
In 2005-6 India was the fourth major source of permanent migrants to Australia behind the United Kingdom, New Zealand and China. Between 2000–01 and 2005–06, the number of skilled migrants coming to Australia from India increased from 4,700 to 12,300 people.[3]
[edit] History
The first Indians that arrived in Australia were mainly Sikhs and Muslims from the Punjab region in north-western India. Between 1860 and 1901, more Indians arrived and worked as agricultural labourers, hawkers and domestic help. A number of Indians also worked in the gold fields. Migration from India was curtailed after the Australian Government introduced the Immigration Restriction Act 1901, but following India's independence from Britain in 1947, the number of Anglo-Indians and Indian-born British citizens immigrating to Australia increased.[4][5]
[edit] Demographics
At the 2006 Census 147,106 Australian residents declared that they were born in India, of which 79,025 held Australian citizenship. The states with the largest Indian-born residents were New South Wales (57,156), Victoria (52,853) and Western Australia (15,157).
64,968 declared they were Hindu and 49,975 declared they were Christian and the rest, Muslims or Sikhs. [6]. 243,722 Australian residents declared that had Indian ancestry, either alone or in combination with another ancestry. [7]
[edit] Notable Indian Australians
See Category:Indian Australians
[edit] References
[edit] External links
